Q: My dog is having a stoke. What should I do?

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My dog is 13 and I think he is having a stroke. Is there anything I can do? The vet is not open, and the charge insane ammounts for emergency visits, also, i don't want them to just poke and prod him with a bunch of tests and make him uncomfortable. Any suggestions? :-(

Readers' Answers (10)

i'm all for skipping the many, many tests that exist to draw to conclusions you're already at. i understand when people can't afford a big emergency vet bill, most people do not have that extra stashed away. but if you dog is having a stroke...? come on. don't justify your neglect by saying you don't want to take him to the vet b/c it'll make him uncomfortable. if you're so dense as to think a stroke isn't worth those necessary measures, then you probably couldn't even tie your shoes to make it out the door, let alone follow the directions to get there. even if it's post-stroke - get your animal to the damn vet.

Why are you spending time on this when you should be taking your dog to the vet? I know emergency trips are more costly; I've made more than I care to think about it, but my dogs are worth it. They are living beings. If you assumed the responsibility of being an animal guardian, then you owe it to the animal to give him/her the best care possible

My beloved Pandy Bear had a her first stroke when I was working. So when I got home, she wasn't able to hardly use her back legs at all. I took her to the vet, and they didn't do anything to help her, just a bunch of tests....well, she had 2 more strokes after that. Again went to the vet, he again did tests, and told me it was a stroke, what to do, gave me some medicine for discomfort, and sent her home. I had to massage her AT LEAST twice a day, to help get the circulation going in her back legs and lower back area, and to help the muscle in those area, as a stroke tends to damage them. She lived 4 more wonderful years....but you should take your dog to the vet at least in the morning, and be sure to keep your baby comfortable, warm, and in a quiet environment in the meantime....noise, and other disturbances, can sometimes trigger another one...

A few years ago, late at night our older dog had what I think was a stroke or seizure. She had tremors, spit up some foamy saliva, acted out of it then couldn't walk for a hour or so, she rested then got up and pranced around. She had 2 more a couple of weeks later. We didn't take her to an emergency vet for many of the same reasons you stated, we took her at the first day our vet was in his office. He could find nothing wrong with her. If your dog is okay now he should be seen as soon as possible but he & you should be calm and as relaxed in your environment as possible, if he is suffering then you need to find a vet quick, the same as if he'd been in an accident.

If you think your dog is having a stroke, he HAS to be seen by a vet. Its not something you can wait & see on & its not something non-medical people can fix. A stroke is serious & time is precious. Please get him the care he deserves.